Chapter 14

His eyebrows knitted together the moment our eyes met across the courtyard.

Hazel and green. Eyes that had once stared into each other depths trying to discover secrets. Eyes that had flashed anger and hatred.

There seemed to be a hundred things running through his mind but then he made a decision and all hell broke loose.

"Thunder, buck!" He shouted.

Immediately the well-trained battle horse became a wild pony that had just been captured. The demon escaped hell and began kicking its back legs while snorting loudly. The others horses were spooked and I gaped as no less than two soldiers were bucked as their own horses began to follow Thunder's less than glamorous moment. Men were kicked and trampled. Horses bumped and injured each other. In a confined space, it was deadly. Thunder however, after starting the scene, calmly walked and stood at the side looking surprisingly dignified.

Meanwhile, Edmund with some sort of inhuman strength pulled his restraints apart. There was a clatter as he dropped a small blade and I noticed a trickle of blood run down his fingers. In the chaos he found his sword and then ran to me and grabbed my hand, while I just stared back in shock.

"Let's get out of here," he said, pulling me to Thunder.

"What are you doing?" Riley hissed. I honestly had no idea. This was the last thing that I had expected to happen.

"Edmund what are you doing?" I finally found some words.

"Getting you out of here," he answered, giving me that wicked grin as he wielded his longsword.

Suddenly the haze dissipated and everything became clear again. No, he couldn't save me. I didn't even need saving. I was in the middle of getting Araluen out of this mess and I didn't need his help. What happened to those accusations from a week ago? He couldn't just waltz in here on his horse and expect me to believe him and ride off into the sunset with him. Who did he think he was? Who did he think I was?

Neither of us had ever been calm and patient. We were both so volatile and passionate. He was always so wary of people trying to use him for his title and I was hesitant to let my guard down to anyone. What had happened that week ago had destroyed whatever was between us and neither of us were the type to forgive.

"I don't need rescuing," I said firmly. "And especially not from you."

"There isn't time for all that," Edmund insisted, pulling on my arm.

But it was too late.

Dozens of crossbows locked into place, the noise echoing through the early morning air. It was only then that Edmund stopped. Most of the horses had settled and the chaos was no more. The drawbridge had been hurriedly closed and there was no way he would be able to 'rescue' me anymore. The soldiers on the ground had drawn their weapons and then all eyes turned towards the Castle Keep door.

"What is happening here?" El jefe demanded.

"The prisoner escaped," the leader of the patrol informed his commander.

"Anyone of importance?" El jefe asked, mildly interested.

"The Príncipe de Araluen," came the answer.

El jefe's head immediately turned so that he could inspect Edmund for himself. Taking in his hold on the longsword, he looked suitably impressed.

"And what did you think you were doing, trying to escape from my heavily fortified castle?"

Edmund looked stunned to finally be face to face with his nations tormentor.

"I only wanted to rescue this prisoner of yours and then leave, Señor Romero," Edmund answered.

"What prisoner?"

Edmund took my hand in his before I could stop him. "Monique."

I didn't know what he expected. He was heavily outnumbered and there was no way he was getting out of here alive. Even if the entire Araluen army tried to lay siege to Castle Caraway it would be long and drawn out. His best option right now was life in the dungeon before being ransomed by Cassandra. I guess he thought that if he agreed not to bother el jefe then he would be allowed out with me.

My father looked at Edmund and then at me and then at Edmund again. Then he let out a booming laugh.

"You're rescuing Monique?" he chuckled.

"Yes?" Edmund answered uncertainly.

"You mean you're rescuing my own daughter from me?"

Now the rest of the soldiers joined his laughter.

Edmund just stared at me, looking utterly lost.

"What's he talking about?" he asked, seeming to forget the fact that I had been standing in the middle of the courtyard completely unrestrained when he found me. I hadn't been in need of his rescuing in the first place.

I straightened my shoulders and looked him straight in the eye as I yanked my hand back. If there was ever a time to see how well I could play the devoted daughter of el jefe, this was it. I could see my father watching. He wanted to see how loyal I was. Would I stick by his cause or bail for my Royal ex-boyfriend, the enemy? I knew that Edmund was a valuable political pawn who could easily be ransomed. They wouldn't kill him. I might have hated him, but that didn't mean I wanted to see him die.

"I am not Monique Bowman or Sarah Worth or whatever else I told you. Don't ever call me that again. My name is Lady María Katalina Leonor of Aragon and of Romero. I am Iberian nobility and the favoured granddaughter of Lord Nicolás of the House Aragon and the granddaughter of the revered Generalísimo Franco and daughter of Generalísimo José both of the House Romero. I am not some street urchin that you and Will and Alyss and Cassandra took in and helped. I am Iberian nobility with an army at my father's fingertips. We are right at your doorstep and you better remember it," I declared with the best imitation of my mother. It felt good to list my power. Too good. I caught the worried look from Riley as if he was wondering if he had made a mistake regarding my loyalty and whether he had just doomed his entire family with his earlier admission.

Edmund just gaped.

"Look where we are now. You don't have all the power anymore. Remember all those things you accused me of? I bet you wish you had believed me now. It could have come in handy right but I don't need you or anyone else now," I said gesturing to the hundreds of men in uniform around us. "Who would have thought that the little thief from Caraway would end up here as a daughter of Iberion. I certainly didn't but I guess the gods have a sense of humour."

"You're his daughter. You're el jefe's daughter," Edmund muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. It only took a few more moments for everything to sink in. The fact that I wasn't locked up in a dungeon currently. El jefe's head still being attached to his shoulders.

I drew myself up to my full height and plastered on a sinister grin. At least I hoped it was sinister. From Riley's worried expression and my father matching grin I think I somehow succeeded.

"You're siding with him! After all we've done for you, you're siding with the man who kidnapped Daniel. Little Danny who has done nothing to anyone. A child! Don't you have a heart? That little boy adores you. And gods! He killed my uncle! He had the King of Araluen assassinated!" Edmund drew his sword and faced my father.

"I challenge you to a duel. You and me Señor Romero for Araluen. You won't take this country while air still flows through my lungs and blood still courses through my veins," Edmund declared. I had to admit the bastard was brave, but stupid. Unbelievably stupid.

My father laughed. A cold laugh that sent a chill down my spine.

"The words of a boy. Only one facing certain death would gamble his life like that," he said before gazing up to his battlements.

"Archers at your ready. If he takes another step, mátalo."

"You think I'm afraid to die?" Edmund asked, his sword not moving an inch even after the threat on his life. "I would die for my country in a second."

"And what a shame it would be die while the woman who has your heart hates your very soul."

His gaze darted between me and my father and he looked like he had been punched in the gut – the life sucked out of him. The changes were almost imperceptible but I noticed them all keenly. At the words some of the light in Edmund's usually playful eyes faded. The grip on his sword lessened as if he realised that he had already lost the fight. Not the fight for Araluen, but the fight for me. He had come all this way as some sort of dramatic showcase of his love, but it was too late. His shoulders sagged and his jaw slackened.

"Put him in the dungeons," my father ordered. "He amuses me."

Edmund just stared at me as he was dragged away. I might have felt bad if it wasn't for the nod of approval from my father.

Now that he trusted me, the real fun could begin.

† † †

"He's here?" Wolf growled and looked ready to run into the dungeons and maul off Edmund's face.

"Right down there in the dungeons," I replied.

My mind had been working overtime and after the events of the early morning I hadn't bothered to go back to bed.

My father trusted me after my earlier spiel. I had seemed drunk on my newfound power and a part of me was scared at the words that had flown so easily out of my mouth. How much of this was just an act and how much was some dark part of my soul wanting to finally have control and power over my own life and the lives of others? Now I could ask to be confidante to their plans. If I had exact numbers and the invasion schedule, it would be invaluable to Cassandra and her advisers.

Also I knew that if Edmund was here, Halt was likely to be nearby. If my plans to spy on behalf of Araluen were going to work I would need Halt to know the truth. I would have to find him today and luckily Mistress Danielle had said she would finish the first order of tunics by today. Even though they were supposed to be delivered I could easily just say that I wanted to inspect them myself before buying. He would be watching the castle entrance and if I gave him the opportunity to speak with me alone, he could easily take advantage of it and find me.

Then there was the question of Edmund. I had seen the shattered and confused look on his face when he had found out and now he was locked in the enemy's dungeons. I had heard my father discussing ransom possibilities but not anything immediate. He found it comical to see the prince of the country he was invading in love with his daughter – if it had been real love. I didn't want him to die but a part of me – a very bitter part – thought that perhaps this was a chance to get my revenge.

"I didn't get to bite him enough," Wolf complained.

"Don't worry, we're going to get our revenge on him," I said.

"How?"

"When he found out the truth he was devastated. Like my father said if he really loves me and I have his heart then perhaps I can take the opportunity to crush it."

"I'm liking that smile."

"What smile?" I said.

"That smile of a scorned woman about to get her vengeance."

† † †

Arriving at the stables adjoining the castle I felt my nose crinkle up. The unmistakable smell of animal waste hit me like a wall of fog. Walking inside, a dozen stable hands were running around trying to muck out stables, replace the hay and feed the horses. Caesar had been brought back to Caraway and I was yet to check on her. I perused the hundreds of stables, marvelling at the sheer size of the building. It was almost as big as the stables at Castle Araluen.

Giving up I finally decided to ask a stable hand about her whereabouts.

"The Ranger horse?" he asked and then realising who I was added a milady to the end of his sentence. I almost snickered. Wolf didn't hide his amusement at all.

"Captain Riley's men brought her in a few days ago," I explained.

"She was the one with the bad leg and the disfigured hoof?"

I nodded, the guilt weighing my heart down like an anchor. I had been so selfish in my race to get to Caraway and prove myself that I hadn't cared about what could happen to Caesar.

"She didn't make it," he finally answered, his eyes looking anywhere but at me.

"What do you mean?"

"It was kinder this way. She was in a lot of pain," he explained.

"You killed her!?"

The stable hand took a step back, startled by my outburst.

"She passed away peacefully. We're not animals. And if you're going to blame anyone you should blame the rider who practically rode her to death."

"She was my horse," I said clenching my fists tighter. He scrambled backwards and I saw the horror dawn in his eyes. He had just blamed me, the daughter of el jefe, for killing her own horse. I could see the thoughts racing through his mind. The fear of the consequences, what would happen to his family and the anger that he could just be stepped on by those who had just happened to be born into nobility.

Me, only a few days ago.

"He didn't do anything wrong," Wolf reminded me.

I shut my mouth and swallowed the tirade that was threatening to spill.

"Did you do it yourself?" I asked quietly.

He nodded. "I stroked her mane through the whole thing. She was awfully brave about it."

Wolf had warned me. He had told me to let her rest but I had been stubborn and pig headed, always wanting to get my own way. I had wanted to control something in my life after having everything taken away and I had just caused suffering to poor Caesar who had looked after me and tried her best. I wanted the stable hand to yell at me. I deserved a good tongue lashing.

Before I knew it a few mutinous tears were threatening to spill. I wiped my sleeve across my eyes and stood up straighter. I would not cry and have everyone think that I was weak.

"Has the Prince's stead been stabled here?" I asked.

"We rubbed him down last night and he's been resting." He pointed to a stable a few metres down.

"Good," I answered. "I want him saddled and ready for me as quickly as possible. I'm going into town." I figured that I would rather ride Thunder than some random horse and he was so tall that I could tower over the crowds and look down at them with an air of superiority. Also I could flaunt it in Edmund's face later on.

"Of course milady." He did a little bow before he scurried off and this time I let out a chuckle.

It only took a few minutes for Thunder to be lead out. The horse was so tall that I actually had to tilt my head upwards to look him in the eyes. He seemed to be raising an eyebrow at me, wondering what on earth I was doing and what had happened to his master.

The boy held out his hand, ready to assist me into the saddle but I ignored it. I put my right foot in the stirrup and pulled my left leg over the top, sitting quite comfortably to his surprise.

As I rode into town I listened hard for the sound of hooves behind me. If I was going to try and contact Halt I couldn't have anyone following me. Occasionally and sporadically I changed the gait at which we were going. It was a Ranger trick that Halt had taught me. If a rider was trying to follow you the main issue would be hiding the sounds of his horse and the best way to do that was to match gaits. Changing gaits gave me a small window to see if someone was in fact following. I doubted anyone would be and by the third gait change I was sure and could relax a little.

I had no idea where I would find Halt but I thought that maybe Victor's cottage might be a good place to start. I left Thunder a few hundred metres away while Wolf continued with me. I didn't bother to tie his reins knowing that he was well enough trained that he wouldn't stray. Unless perhaps his master came for him, but Edmund was trapped behind iron bars.

I crept through the undergrowth, keeping my footfalls light and trying to stay in the shadows. The morning sun made everything more difficult and I tried to keep behind trees. There was a light dusting of snow but nothing substantial. My soft boots barely made a sound and Wolf was even quieter. One foot at a time and slowly placing each one from heel to toe. It had become habit.

Finally, we reached the clearing. I expected to see the little Ranger cottage on the top of the hill but instead only saw a charred black remnant. The charming wooden house had been burnt to a crisp and all that remained was the stone fireplace and some beams of wood, leaning against each other at odd angles. I shouldn't have been surprised. This was exactly something that el jefe would do.

I decided to circle the clearing in case Halt was waiting in the tree line. Wolf had gone off on his own to look for Halt. I knew he would probably have greater luck than me with his keen sense of smell.

All of a sudden I picked up a noise. It wasn't loud at all. Amongst all the other sounds of the forest I was surprised that I had noticed at all. It was out of place. That much I knew for certain. It wasn't the slight creaking of tree branches as the wind passed them, or the creatures that still scurried in the winter. I knew it was human and I had a feeling it was stalking me.

I jumped lithely into the shadows and then hugged my body against the side of a tree. I stayed absolutely still and only let my eyes move as the raked the hillside.

I couldn't see anything abnormal. Perhaps my instincts were wrong? It wasn't as if I had trained as a Ranger anyway. I was probably kidding myself, thinking that I had some sort of talent.

I huffed, annoyed at myself and as I did a callused hand clamped tightly over my mouth.

At least I had instincts, even if my foolishness was tenfold.